Carbureter.



L. ATWOOD. CARBURETER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 1909.

Patented Sept. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

L. ATWOOD. GARBURETBR.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 1900. 1,073,727. Patented sep1;.23,1913.

LEGNARD ATWOQD, 0E BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

lce:marmeren.

Speeicetlon of Letters Patent.

PatentedS cpt. 23, 191.3.

Application filed April 14, 1909. Serial No. 489,757.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD A'rwoon, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, lvlassachusetts, have invented certain improvements in Carbureters, ot' which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved device for mixing air with gasolene, or other liquid fuel, in predetern'iined and constant proportions, which shall be relatively simple in construction, easily operated by inexperienced persons, and not liable to get out of order.

I further desire to provide a carbureter which in addition to being compact in loi-m and occupying but little space, shall be capable of separating the liquid fuel from any water which maybe mixed with it, as well as preventing the delivery ol fuel to the engine in liquid form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Carbureter which shall give a uniform feed of fuel under the action of capillary attraction and which shall be capable of preventing any dirt or sediment, etc., passing :from the fuel tank to the engine; it being also desired that the carbureter shall have its parts so arranged as to at all times deliver airl and gasolene in the same fixed proportions, regardless of whether the aC- tual amount of fuel supplied be large Ol small.

In addition, I wish to provide a device for vaporizing liquid 'fuel which shall operate by causing the passage ot' such fuel through a fabric whereby the vaporization is accomplished without the lowering ot its temperature which ordinarily occurs when it is required to pass over cold metal surfaces the construction of said device being such that it permits any fuel vaporized in the reservoir to. escape to the engine without the possibility of its accumulz-iting in said reservoir. i

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, in which :w-

Figure l, is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the detail construction oi"` my devce;*Fg. 2, is an enlargmhfvertical section illustrating the carburetor` proper and showing it as slightly modified soas to be supplied with gasolene from a `fuel tank connected to a fuel reservoir; Fig. 3, 1s a vertical section oi a slightly modified form of carburetor; and Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the carburetor shown in Fig.

.ln Fig. 1 of the above drawingsiil represents a reservoir for liquid fuel; li is the carburetor and C is the conduit connecting such carburetor with the valve chest or eylinder` of an internal combustion engine of any desired type; there being also a pipe o connecting the carbureter B with the fuel tank A, into which it extends to a point near the bottom thereof. The portion of said pipe within the reservoir A is perforated and a suitable wick of asbestos, cloth or other suitable material extends throughout said tube or pipe to and into the carburetor B. This latter consists of a Substantially cylindrical easing l) havinga projection l5 at one side in which is mounted an inwardly opening check valve b2. Extending. vertically within the carburetor' is a metallic cylinder D, the casing Z) having an opening at its to n and concentric with said cylinder but closed by a valve (l mounted therein.

It will be noted that the pipe for delivering fuel from the carburetor to the engine is connected to the top part of said carburoter,l and the cylinder D o posite the opening to said pipe is provided) with perforations cl' to hermit of the passage ol air or vapor from the interior ot' said cylinder to said p1 e.

n Fig. 2 the valve l is loosely mounted upon a rod or stem (Z2 having a nut al serving as an upper abutment for said valve and provided with a spring tl* confined on the stein between the valve l and a second valve (Z5. This second valve is in the 'iorm of an elongated sleeve slidable, like the valve d, within the cylinder D though it does not move independent ly of the stein d and when in its closed position covering a second series of oi'ienings IZ in the sides of said cylinder opposite the projection o, in which is mounted a cheek valve b".

'lhe valve tlf' is held to the rod d'1 by means of a nut Z7 ou the lower end. thereof and Vfor the purpose of moving said rod and with it the valves, l connect to the upper end ol the rod any desired form of manual operating mechanism, such for example as the lever ll whereby it may be raised and lowered at will, to uncover more or .fewer of the openings in the cylinder D.

The check valve o is provided with an adiustable stop b which [its into a recess in its upwardly entendino` top portion and may be raised gr lowered as desired, so that the ambuntof valve opening may be regulated and `it is normally held to its seat by a spring b4 which, however, may be compressed to lpermit opening of the valve when this latter is drawn upwardly by the suction of the engine piston.

Surrounding the metallic cylinder D is a tubular wick F, Figs. 2 and 3 which extends from an annular partition b5 separating t-he upper part or mixing chamber of the carbureter casing 4adjacent to :the outlet pipe C, tothe bottom of said cylinder. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. l this wick F is engaged by one end of the wick a2 which leads through the pipe z of the fuel reservoir A, though in the slightly modied form of myinvention shown in Fig. 2, it with the lower end of the cylinder D, extends into a small tank G wherein a constant level of gasolene or other fluid fuel is maintained by means of a oat g' and a valve g connected thereto. This valve is seated in a conduit g2 leading from the fuel reservoir and is 'designed to be actuated by the float to cut ed further entrance of liquid to the tank Gr i when such liquid has attained a predetermined depth therein; it being understood that in this case said fuel reservoir is placed at such a level as to properly sup ply the fuel. ln this case an abutment g5 is fixed to the bottom of the tank G and rojects upwardly within the lower part o the cylinder D so as tobe engaged by t-he lower end of the rod Z2 to limit the possible down- Y ward movement of said rod with its valves Z and (Z5. As shown, there is also a series of perforations or holes g8 in the lower portion of the cylinder D where this extends .within the tank G; through which fuel va- -por may be drawn into the interior of the cylinder D, though these holes may be'omitted without departing from my invention.

With the above described arrangement of parts in the positions shown, the passage of combustible -vapor except on the sucti n stroke tothe pipe C and thence to thek ngine is prevented, since the sleeve valve Z5 effectually prevents the passage of /fuel to the upper portion of the carbureter, It is possible, however, to turn the engine overy by handjfor under the action ofthe suction so produced in the pipe C and inthe mixing chamber of the carbureter, the valve Z- is drawn downward against the action of-the` springd4 and uncovers certain ofthe upper openings 4Z of said cylinder, so that air is free topass into the carbureter through the 'top opening thereof and thence to the pipel C.' After the suction stroke. the valve Z is again free to be returned to its upper /or closed position( under the action of thel spring' Zta lf it be desired to admit fuel to the -engine, the rod Z2 is moved downwardly by means of any operating device attached to the lever E so that the valve Z uncovers certain of the holes Z above it at or about the same time the valve Z5 likewise uncovers certain of the holes ZG above itself so that air may be drawn through the wick F and those of said holes above the valve Z5 into the cylinder D, at the same time that a further body of air is drawn into the up* per end of said cylinder D through those of the holes Z above the valve (Z, into the pipe C.

Since liquid fuel is supplied to the lower end of the wick F either from the tank Gr or from the wick a2, this latter is kept in a saturated condition. Moreover upon each suction stroke of the engine air is drawn into the carbureter not only through the uhcovered holes Z but also through the wick F and through the holes Z6 in the/'785 cylinder D, the valve b2 being automatically lifted for this purpose. It is therefore obvious that in passing through the saturated wick, the air from the valve b2 is caused to Vaporize and carry with it av definite amount of fuel which is furt-lier mixed with the air vpassing the valve Z.

, It will be noted that the proportions oit fuel and air admitted to the carbureter to form the mixture are, normally constant, irrespective'of thequantities of said mixture used, since the two valves Z andl Z5 ordinarily open at approximately the/same I time to a iixed amount. Under'certain abnormal conditions however, the .valve Z .may

move'independently of the valve Z5 by`compressing the spring d4, as fdr example, when the engine is turned over 'by some external force. It" may be noted that this resilientconnection between the valves Z and Z5 provided by the lspring is particularly advantageous/ in case theengine vwas cranked by electric vor other power .while said valve Z? 'is 'in' its closed-v position, for under this condition;y fthe valve Z could open independently to admit air. The arr-angement would alsp be of. value in .-case the vehicle upon which is mounted fthe engine employing the above describedfscarbureter was moving down grade with tli e 1fuel supply valve', closed, .since freev alr would be lit taken,in by reason of the opening of lthe, l

1valve d, thus cooling the engine cylinders.-

When the auxiliarytank G is used. the

float g and valve g' maintain the fuel'therein at a constant level, while in the slightly,

different form of the invention shown in Fig: 1,

purpose.

In order that there may berno possibility lof fuel in a liquid form passing from the carbureter to the engine, I mount in the tube C a tubular or other wick o so-tliat this can absorb and hold any temporary surplus or liquid particles which might, under some the wick Aa2 accomplishestlie same conceivable conditions, be delivered from the carbureter. It is obvious that such surplus would from time to time be taken up by the mixture passing normally from the carburctcr so that it serves as a regulating device to prevent improper' Vamounts of fuel being delivered to the engine.

If found advisable, may, as shown in liig. 3,.provide a third valve (Z8, mounting this upon an extension (Z9 of the rod (Z2 and extending the perforated cylinder below the tank G as indicated at D. This extension has a series of perforations (Zw below `which the valve d may be moved so as to admit more or less air into the lower part of the cylinder D, depending upon the number of said perforations uncovered above said valve. As before, however, the relative amounts of air and fuel mixed and dcliv ered to the engine through the pipe C are consta-mt; being customarily in the proportions of nine parts of air to one part of gasolene.

As shown in Fig. 3, I may, when it is desired to secure greater uniformity of feed, as well as an increased supply of fuel pro vide the main wick F with a reinforcing wick ll", surrounding that part thereof to which fuel is supplied so as to insure a fuller and more uniform supply of such fuel than would be ordinarily obtained. It desired, I may deliver liquid fuel to this auxiliary wick through the wick a connected with the fuel reservoir and wound around said auxiliary wick within the carburetor. It is of course obvious that with the construction shown in Fig. 3, there would be provided passages d through the valve tlf to permit of the passage of the air entering the cylinder D through the holes di".

lf desired, the relative positions of the valves l and l5 may bc varied to regulate the relative amounts of air and fuel drawn to the engine, this being accomplished in the form of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2, by means of a nut d whereby the position on said valve (I upon the rod d: may be adjusted. By this change of position of said valve it may be open simultancously with the valvc di or before or after thc same, as may bc. found advisable. Similarly the amount of air admitted through the valve lf' may be rcgulatcd b.Y adjusting the possible hit of the valve by the stop L.

ln order to guard against thc blowing outwardly of thc wick or setting lire to thc liquid or vapor in the carburetor. l provide a metallic gauze casingl ll2 Figs. l and 2l surroumling thc wich Il" so that this is cffectually hold in place for the purposenotcd. ln some cases I may also provide a rclict valve 7; as in Fig. Il \vhich is preferably mounted in the wall ot thc casing B in liuc with the conduit and the valve proper bl is normally held seated by a light .spring 7',

although the suction from the engine is ordinai-ily sutlcient to hold it in place. ln the event of back tiring this valve automatically opens and relieves `any excessive pressure within the casing.

It is to be noted that one ofthe advantages of providing a tubular wick within the conduit leading from the reservoir A to thc casing B is due to the fact that any vaporizcd fuel or gas which may collect in the upper portion of the reservoir is permitted to cscape therefrom under conditions of operation and so to the engine through the interior of the wick, thereby obviating any abnormal pressure which might otherwise occur within the reservoir due to its becoming heated.

I claim l. The coml'iinatioii of a casing having two air inlets, and an outlet connected to an engine; a tubular wick in the casing bctween one of the air inlets and thc outlet; means for delivering liquid fuel to the wick; with valves having means for simuh tancously actuating thcnr; said valves` rc spcctively controlling the tlow of air into the casing through thc second air inletv and the flow of vaporizcd l'ucl from the wich.

2. Theu combination in a carljun'ctcr of a 'asing having a carbureting chamber conncctcd to an engine and provided with an air inlet to said chamber, a valvtI tor said inlet, a source of supply of liquid l'ucl oonnectcd to another portion ot' 'the casing, a wick in thc casing placed to rcccivc said fuel from said source, means for delivering air to the wick, and meansl for controlling thc llow of air through thc wick to tht` carbu-Y rcting chamber, said controlling moans hcing operatively connected to the air inlct valve.

3. The combination in a carburetor ol a casing, a wiel: mounted therein and con-- nccted to a source of supply of liquid fucl. means for connecting the casing with tht` cn gine, valves` placed to rispet-tively go'icvn the low of air through thc \\'icl and the entrance of air into the casing, said valvc-s being mcclmnically connected and formed to maintain substantially constant thc relativo proportions of air and vaporizcd fuel irrc` spective of the quantities of said ingredients.

4. The combination in a carburctcr ot a casing, having an outlet, a cylinder. a iviclt adjacent to the cylinder and connected to a source of liquid fuel, there being air inlcts for the casingof which one is placed to dclivcr air directly to the outlet and another is placed to deliver air to said outlct through the cylinder and the wick, with nuchanically connected valves for the cylinder for rogulat'ing the llow of air into the casing and also the tiow ol vaporixcd tucl troni tbc wiclf` 5. The combination in a ou'lnuct :r olI a llt! casing, having an outlet, a cylinder, a wick adjacent to the cylinder and connected to a source of liquid fuel, there beingair inlets for the casing of which one is placed to deliver air directly to the outlet and the other is placed to deliver air to said outlet through l the cylinder and the wick, with valves for l ating device for the valves,

the cylindefrfon regulating the flow of air into the `casing and also the How of vaporized fuelfrom the wick, and a common opersaid valves .being constructed to maintain substantially constant the relative proportions of said vaporized fuel and air regardless of the eX- tent of their openings.

6. The combination-of a casing, a cylinder therein having two series of perforations, a valve, and operating means therefor for controlling the flow of air through said cylinder and throughl one set of perforations, a wick mounted on the cylinder adjacent the other set of perforations and connected to a source of liquid fuel supply; a second valve in `the cylinder capable of regulating the flow of air through said wick and through the other set of perforations, said second valve being connected to the first valve, means for admitting air into the casing around the wick, and means for operating the valves.

7. The combination in a carbureter of a casing having a fuel inlet and means for volatilizing liquid fuel, a ,valve for admitting air tothe casing, a second valve for .f governing the flow of `volatilized fuel through the casing, and means fOr yieldingly connecting said valves while permitting their simultaneous adjustment to permit of independent movement of the valves under predetermined conditions.

8. The combination in a carbureter of a casing having two air inlets and an outlet, a check valve for one inlet, a cylinder in the casing communicating with the other inlet,

- two valves within Athe cylinder of which one controls the passage of air through the seclond air inlet, there being perforations in the cylinder controlled by the other Valve, a wick surrounding the cylinder over the perforations and adjacent to the first air inlet, said wick being in communication with a source of fuel supply, and means connecting said two valves for simultaneously operating the same.

9. The combination in a carbureter of a casing having two airinlets and an outlet, a check valve for one inlet, a cylinder in the casing communicating with the other inlet, two valves within the cylinder of which one controls the passage of air through the second air inlet, there being perforations in the cylinder controlled by the other of the valves, a wick surrounding the cylinder over the perforations and adjacent to the first air inlet, said wick being in communication with a source of fuel supply, means connecting said two valves for simultaneously operating the same, and a spring i11- terposeol between the valves for permitting one of them to operate independently of the other under predetermined conditions.

10. The combination in a carbureter of a casing having two inlets and an outlet; a cylinder within the casing provided with two sets of perforations of which one set is adjacent the outlet and the other set is adjacent one of the inlets; two valves for the cylinder of lwhich one controls the flow of air from one air inlet to the outlet, and the second valve controls the flow of air. from the other inlet through one set of perforations into the cylinder; with a wick around a part of the cylinder.

11. The combination of a carburetor, a reservoir, a conduit connecting said carbureter andthe reservoir, and a wick eX- tending in the conduit from the reservoir to the carburetenwith means in the carbureter independent of said wick for vaporizing fuel, said wick havin a passage for the transmissio-n of vapor from the 'reservoir to the carbureter. v l l 12. The combination of a carbureter, a fuel reservoir, a conduit extending from the carbureter to the reservoir and downwardly through4 the latter to a point adjacent to the bottom thereof, there being openings in the wall of the conduit Where it passes through the upper portion of the reservoir, and a tubular wick extending in the conduit from the reservoir to the carbureter.

A13. The combination in 'a carbureter of a casing connected to a source of fuel supply and to an engine; a tubular perforated supporting structure within the carbureter and ioo having its interior connected to the fuel pipe l leading to the engine; a tubular. wick mounted upon the outside of said structure; and a body of perforated material mounted on the outside of the wick so as to confine it.

to the perforated supporting structure; the space in the casing immediately surrounds' ing said body of perforated material being nconnection with the source of fuel supply.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameA to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONARD ATWUOD.

' Witnesses: j

711.141.701 E. BRADLEY,

WM. A. BARR. 

